AUTHORS Q - R
Have a look at the UNIGOU Remote Publications developed by students
participating in the Scientific Training part of the UNIGOU Remote Program:
participating in the Scientific Training part of the UNIGOU Remote Program:
Wave Energy: A Review of Technologies, Performance, and Costs
Queiroz Campos, Pedro
Abstract:
In the last few decades, the energy demand has increased significantly. In a world where the energy majority comes from fossil fuels, the need for renewable energy sources is tremendous. Among the renewable energy sources, Wave Energy is one of the most promising, however, it is still in the initial stage of its development. This study will make a complete analysis of Wave Energy: From its creation in nature to the existing Wave Energy Converters (WECs), evaluating the different technology’s performance and estimating the cost of implementation compared to other energy sources.
Keywords:
Wave Energy, Wave Power, Renewable Energy, Technology, Review, Performance, Cost, Economics.
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Literature Review: How COVID-19 Pandemic Has Affected Perception of Cosmetics Products
Queiroz Rabelo, Cecília
Abstract:
During COVID-19 pandemic, protective measures were taken around the world, such as isolation at home and mandatory wear of face masks. Consequently, common habits of using cosmetics products have changed. People were afraid of getting infected, increasing the use of cleaning products, and some problems related to face masks were noticed by consumers. Furthermore, with the stores’ closure, the brands had to find new channel sales. So, this study aims to analyze the impact of the spread of the pandemic in the perception and market of cosmetic products. This study is a literature review and a narrative review was adopted. The results have shown a positive effect in cleansing and skincare products, in which the responders stated an improvement of skin appearance when they were following a full face care routine. But the same was not detected in the wear of makeup. Moreover, with store closing and fear of getting infected by the virus, the frequency of visits to physical stores decreased and online shopping expanded after the outbreak. Hence, without the touch experience, people spent more time looking for reviews on the Internet and found out people that just didn’t share their opinion about products but also about their lives. As a consequence, consumers started to trust more on these digital influencers. Therefore, COVID-19 has indeed changed consumers’ preference of cosmetics, and, as some people intend to maintain some habits acquired during the pandemic, the companies need to be aware of the development of new technologies that attend to the new requirements. Moreover, the brands had also to adapt to new ways of sales and marketing to continue to deliver everyone.
Keywords:
Skincare, makeup, maskne, online shopping, digital marketing.
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R
Efficiency of CONAMA 454/12 Ensuring the Correct Disposal of Contaminated Sediments: A Review
Rafael de Oliveira, Thaís
Abstract:
Dredging is the process of removing material from the bed of water bodies, with a specific purpose. This is a procedure commonly performed in harbor channels to maintain or increase flow capacity. For this reason, several legal instruments were created to regulate dredging processes in Brazilian territory, including Resolution No. 454/2012 of the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA). This resolution regulates the management methods for material that will be dredged in waters under national jurisdiction and its final disposal. The physical and chemical characterizations of the material to be dredged are of great importance for the assessment of its disposal, management and monitoring, observing the framework of the classification in the toxic effect thresholds (Level 1 and Level 2) established in the resolution. However, in its article 12, first paragraph, the legislation leaves to the discretion of the entrepreneur the choice of carrying out acute or chronic ecotoxicological tests to prove the toxicity of the sediment according to the chemical contamination. It is known that there is a difference in the sensitivity of these tests. The non-mandatory performance of chronic assays may interfere with the sensitivity aspects of the analysis, since many stressors may not demonstrate acute toxicity but indicate chronic toxicity. The present study evaluated 5 articles that performed acute and chronic tests to assess the sensitivity of ecotoxicological tests and relate the results to the efficiency of Brazilian legislation. It was observed that chronic tests have a significant effect on biota even when acute tests do not indicate environmental risk. This factor is decisive in the disposal of contaminated sediment and can generate harmful effects in new areas.
Keywords:
CONAMA 454/12, Acute tests, Chronic tests, Contaminated sediments, dredging, ecotoxicology.
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The Historical Evolution of Punishment
Rebonatto Vieira, Letícia Gabrielle
Abstract:
This article aims to critically analyze the phenomenon of criminal punishment throughout human history, prioritizing a critical analysis and addressing the various theories of punishment. The methodology used was bibliographical research and the analysis of the theory of several authors, seeking a broad and critical understanding of the subject.
Keywords:
Criminal Law, Punishment, Theory of Penalty.
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Land Surface Temperature Retrieval from Daytime and Nighttime Landsat 8 Imagery
Rech, Bruno
Abstract:
Land Surface Temperature (LST) represents Earth’s surface temperature and is a parameter of great interest for various fields of study, such as hydrology and climate change. Whilst point observations are unable to account effectively for the spatial variability of LST, remote sensing techniques provide a robust assessment of the surface complexity regarding its temperature. In this sense, Landsat 8 satellite acquires thermal infrared data from the surface, and its higher spatial resolution is suitable for urban environment applications. Given the importance of LST for a diverse set of studies, this paper aimed to generate daytime and nighttime LST maps of Florianópolis metropolitan region. We assumed that Land Surface Emissivity (LSE) does not change significantly over scenes of the same area and temporally close (a few days) if no atmospheric precipitation occurs within the timespan between their acquisition dates. Therefore, LSE obtained for daytime could be combined with nighttime thermal infrared data for retrieving LST. This assumption was necessary since the shortwave data required for LSE estimation is not available for Landsat 8 nighttime imagery. The results showed a mean LST of 24.4 °C and 14.4 °C for day and night, respectively. For daytime, the higher temperatures were registered over built-up areas, while the lowest values represented vegetation. At night, the water bodies showed the highest LST, while the regions with lower values were also represented by vegetation. The applied methods have proven to be effective for retrieving LST from daytime and nighttime Landsat 8 scenes, and may provide LST data for the development of other studies.
Keywords:
Land Surface Temperature, remote sensing, single-channel algorithm.
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Corporate Accountability for Dam Disasters in Brazil
Reyes Alves da Paes, Leonardo Gabriel
Abstract:
By examining the Mariana dam collapse in Minas Gerais, Brazil, the article analyses the challenges involved in corporate accountability under international human rights law. Following the introduction and the methodology, in the third part of this article, the context of international soft-law regulatory frameworks related to business and human rights is discussed. Afterward, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are described, which exclude direct corporate accountability. In the fourth section of the paper, there is an explanation of why a heightened risk assessment of human rights is a necessary protective measure, which is based mainly on the failures of an unprecedented self-regulated governance model implemented in the aftermath of the Mariana dam disaster. To conclude, the Mariana case illustrates that soft-law instruments may not be sufficient to ensure effective protection for vulnerable communities exposed to environmental damages.
Keywords:
Business and Human Rights. UN Guiding Principles. Dam disaster. Brazil. Environmental damage. Vulnerable communities.
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Trend Analysis of Published Open-Access Articles Referring to Climate Comfort
Rizzo Mendes, Ana Carla
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to analyse trends in publications on the term “Climate Comfort” in the Science Direct and Scopus databases. For this, filters were applied for a more detailed analysis, with the same filters applied in both databases. First, keywords such as “Climate Comfort” were used, together with compositions that indicated the location of the study, such as “in”, “on”, among others. Then, restriction filters were applied so that the results came from “open publications”, “articles” and in “English language”. The results were significant and organized in tables during the methodology. The tables were composed of three columns: “reference and year”, “thematic area” and “country/zone”. As the Vancouver referencing system was used, the numbers in square brackets indicated the respective reference, while the year was kept in the table to facilitate reading and data analysis. The results showed that the Science Direct database presented only 4 results, while Scopus database presented 45. The country that stood out in the number of publications was China, and the absence of many countries in relation to studies related to the subject was noted. It is not clear whether the theme publishing trend is growing. It is expected that this study will help in the planning of further studies.
Keywords:
Climate Comfort, Trends, Articles, Publications, Open Access.
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Multilanguage in Popular Music: A Study of the 2022 Billboard Charts
Rizzo Takano, Gabriel
Abstract:
The phenomenon of globalisation, intensified by contemporary mass media technology, has caused significant shifts in the consumption and proliferation of media content. One of the consequences of this is that a speaker may have access, through media content, to a variety of different languages besides their own. This enables languages to have reaches not defined by their speakers, but by media consumption. This study analysed the most popular songs of the year 2022 through the industry standard Billboard weekly song charts, listing the occurrence of different languages and comparing the contents of the North American charts to those of the Global charts, adding up to, respectively, 762 and 688 entries. These song entries were divided into four main categories, based on the use of English: songs in which it is the exclusive language, songs in which it is the main language, songs in which it is secondary to another language, and songs where it was not used. These were further divided by language used in relation to English, in the same exclusive, primary, and secondary metrics. Finally, results from the two different charts were compared, highlighting the similarities and differences between North American and global media consumption. This provided a data illustration to present cultural and mass media realities in music, marked by the prominence of English-language song in coexistence with the increased consumption, by English speakers, of different language music, notably Spanish, Korean, and Yoruba, as observed by recent studies. English has taken a stature in the music industry which makes it the most favoured language, with the common practice of non-native artists using it partial or even totally in songs, however, the global nature of mass media prevents it from being the only contender. In fact, it can be argued that English’s hegemony creates demand for national-language music. With this in sight, the aim of this study is to observe and contribute to the body of research documenting the impact of globalisation and mass media in popular song, as well as in the circulation of different languages.
Keywords:
Multilanguage, popular music, media consumption, language circulation.
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Human Rights in the Face of Neoliberalism: Precarisation of Social Rights, Incarceration and Moral Conservatism in Brazil as Part of an International Phenomenon
Rocco Stainsack Rocha, Sofia
Abstract:
To design the scope of the research, there are three main strands to characterise neoliberalism, being: i) A powerful punitive state and social control are rising. Moral conservatism, on the other hand, is rapidly curtailing individual rights (such as freedom), imposing a familistic outlook on society; ii) Neoliberalism can be regarded as a political attempt to re-establish the conditions of capital accumulation and reestablish the power of economic elites from a Marxist perspective; and iii) It is a political ideology that refers to the re-engineering of the state to assist the formation and establishment of markets, to instil a competitive ethos in all aspects of life, and to limit social initiatives and substitute them with prisons. Allied to these strands, the new world reason that characterises neoliberalism has found support in moral conservatism, a religious, traditional, and patriotic perspective of moral values, family, and politics in countries such as Brazil. As a result, the goal of this study is to determine the influence that the international neoliberalism fenomenon combined with moral conservatism has had on human rights in Brazil: how are human rights protected in this environment? In neoliberalism, who is the subject of human rights? Which rights are the most severely impacted? It begins by assuming that neoliberalism’s critique of society results in the abolition of political citizenship and a focus on ultra-individualism. With the decline of social policies and the state’s involvement in supplying them, social rights are becoming increasingly fragile. The strong penal state and social control are growing in their place. Individual rights (such as freedom) are, on the other hand, increasingly curtailed by moral conservatism, which imposes a familistic perspective on society.
Keywords:
Human Rights, neoliberalism, Brazil, incarceration, conservatism.
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An Introduction to Nurse Rostering Problem Heuristics Methods
Rodrigues da Silva, Guilherme Ramon
Abstract:
The Nurse Rostering Problem (NRP) is a highly constrained combinatory problem. Mathematical Modelling approaches may successfully solve small instances, but their performance is limited by the number of decision variables and time available for more complex instances and real-world scenarios. Heuristics methods can tackle the problem through a different perspective: decomposing models, creating sub-Mixed-Integer Problems (MIPS) and generating feasible solutions quickly. In this article, we will review some constructive heuristics and local search methods such as relax-and-fix, fix-and-optimize, and proximity search. The purpose is to provide a trustful source to understand these methods that can be merged to tailor better schedules, not only for NRP but for other personnel rostering problems.
Keywords:
Nurse Rostering Problem, Heuristics, Relax-and-fix, Fix-and-optimize, Proximity Search.
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Paradiplomacy Studies in Brazil in the 21st Century: A Narrative Literature Review
Rodrigues de Oliveira, Vinícius
Abstract:
This article presents a narrative literature review of a selected sample of literature regarding the phenomenon of paradiplomacy by the subnational unities in the Brazilian federation. Through the criteria-based selection of open-source journals, followed by analysis and cross-reference, the research provides insight into multiple perspectives regarding Brazilian paradiplomacy. Additionally, the article identifies several research gaps brought forth by recent changes in the international and Brazilian political and social landscape, gaps that then allow for the conclusion that further research is possible on the topic, focused on multiple new objects, and possible theoretical focuses.
Keywords:
Paradiplomacy, federal diplomacy, literature review, Brazil, decentralized international cooperation.
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Environmental Refugees: A Literature Review
Rodrigues Lima, Sophia
Abstract:
The concept of climate change has become well-known by the international community. Its consequences are innumerable, and among them, an impact on migration can be seen. In the last decades, the literature has developed an urge to recognize those displaced due to climate change and ways to define them. In this research, we analyse different factors found in the literature that impact the definition of environmentally displaced persons. Were explored the general aspects of the theoretical construction of ‘environmental refugees’, and the factors that are taken into account for this characterization. It was discussed how to define an environmental refugee based on the previous findings and the importance of this identification.
Keywords:
Environmental refugees, international migration, displacement, climate changing, migration studies.
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A Short Review on Classical and Recent Contrast Enhancement and Exposure Correction Techniques
Rocha Barbosa, Matheus
Abstract:
Contrast enhancement and exposure correction techniques are important in many applications that rely on images captured by cameras. This paper reviews such techniques. Focus is made on histogram based and learning based methods. It was observed that newer methods attempt to overcome drawbacks of previous methods, but to achieve this they often reduce the enhancement capability and add computational load. It was also observed a growing use of learning based methods in this field, specially methods using deep convolution neural networks (CNNs). A conclusion of this review is that newer methods are in general not replacements to previous methods; each method has its advantages and drawbacks and is more appropriate to specific problems and applications.
Keywords:
Image processing, contrast enhancement, exposure correction, histogram equalization, deep learning.
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Belo Monte: A Macro View on Environmental and Social Impacts at Pará
Rocha Maximino de Oliveira, William
Abstract:
This paper aims to analyze the social and ambiental impacts which came from the construction of Belo Monte hydroelectric in Pará State, Brazil. Despite the discourse of governments authorities about the development that this hydroelectric would bring to the region, in practice, according to the literature review, other points can be demonstrated, such as the impact of Belo Monte’s plant on social groups and the resettlement that they were subjected to. Moreover, the approach given by the government to the ambiental consequences and especially for the community was, still, analyzed by human rights authorities, as the Interamerican Court of Human Rights. In the article, the main points of view on the topic addressed were highlighted and explained, taking into account the motivations of each interested party. According to the point of view presented, the intention was not to solve these issues, but analyze the main points vinculated with the social groups impacted by the construction and the ambiental damages, as there is still much to be taken into account, which adds to the complexity of the subject. This demonstrated objective was to impartially show the different points opposed, thus opening precedents for questions still unanswered. In conclusion to the work, it was based on the occurrence of EIA (Ambiental Impact Study – Estudo de Impacto Ambiental) and its effort (or lack of it) to contemplating all the aspects that should be analyzed, such as the recognition of each social group affected and also the environmental areas flooded or damaged with the drought of the alteration of the river course.
Keywords:
Belo Monte. Hydroelectric. Social impact. Ambiental impact. Human rights.
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Black Holes: Artistic Metaphors for the Contemporaneity
Ruiz da Silva, Gustavo
Abstract:
This paper investigates the cultural significance of black holes and suns as metaphors in continental European literature and art, drawing on theoretical insights from French continental authors such as Jean-François Lyotard and Ray Brassier. Lyotard suggests that black holes signify the ultimate form of the sublime, representing the displacement of humanity and our unease with our place in the cosmos. On the other hand, Brassier views black holes as a consequence of the entropic dissolution of matter, reflecting physical reality’s indifference to subjective or teleological significance. The study also presents a curated collection of literary works and artworks that employ black holes and suns as metaphors, examining the emergence of these metaphorical objects and identifying discursive and epistemological shifts in society. Furthermore, this collaborative research project, involving the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and the Federal Fluminense University in Brazil, and the Charles University in Prague in the Czech Republic, aims to provide a valuable resource for further academic inquiry.
Keywords:
Black Holes; Black Suns; Metaphors; Artwork; Literature; Contemporary Continental Philosophy.
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Privatization of Ports in Brazil: Is It a Way to Increase Its Efficiency?
Raggi Abikair, Felipe
Abstract:
The present paper aims to analyze the privatization of the Port of Vitória, which was carried out in 2022, marking the first privatization of a port authority in Brazil. Given the novelty of the port management model introduced with this privatization, the so-called private landlord port, replacing the landlord port, the question arises whether the privatization is an effective way to increase efficiency, balancing the risk of having a private company responsible of a matter of national sovereignty. To address this, it was made an analysis of the regulatory framework applicable to the sector, the New Ports (Law 12.815/2013), focusing on the possibilities of private sector exploration of port services. Along with that, it was researched the major ports in the world and its administration model, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of them.
Keywords:
Port Authority, Ports, Law, Ports administration models, Port of Vitória, Brazil, Privatization.
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Prospects for a Public Mental Health Policy in Brazil
Ramos Lima, Nathalia
Abstract:
The pursuit of high performance by workers have had devastating effects. Every revolution experienced by humanity, we have both positive and negative factors intrinsic to the respective changes. Mental health issues are not recent, but due to the conditions and demands experienced by workers over the years have intensified this situation, and what was once only theoretical has now been quantified by international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which annually reveal alarming data regarding the effects that this high productivity has on workers. In Brazil, the situation is no different, with data indicating a growing number of people with mental illnesses associated with the workplace, leading to absences, and, in extreme cases, even suicide. Mental illness is a public issue and should receive attention from the government as well as the private sector and other stakeholders because the trend is for the number of people affected by these mental disorders to increase. Through a bibliographical research sought to understand the relationship between mental illness and the work of organizational and work psychologists, and how these professionals can be strategic in promoting a public mental health policy. It is necessary a change structural in society, starting with the academic environment, which plays an essential role in the education of future professionals who will work in these settings. They possess the technical and specialized knowledge needed to deal with the current scenario of mental illness resulting from the work environment.
Keywords:
Organizational and Work Psychology; Mental Health, Occupational health.
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The World Bank and Its Reflexes in the Brazilian Education Post COVID-19
Rezende Monteiro, Alice
Abstract:
The World Bank is known to be an institution that promotes development and has as one of its priorities to improve the educational system, especially in developing countries. This paper focuses on the reflexes of the World Bank’s actions and agenda in Brazil’s education and its changes after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides a critical assessment of the bank’s creation, the differences between its politics when it was founded and nowadays, exploring through official documents what were the actions taken by the institution and why were they made. It also shows its relation with Brazil, the agenda adopted to assist the educational system and focus on the changes that took place after the pandemic. The study was made based on a qualitative data analysis and literature review of the institution’s documents and published articles. This analysis showed the inefficiency of the World Bank in assisting developing countries during crisis and most importantly the permanence of the same agenda for education in Brazil for several years, even after significant changes in the global scenery.
Keywords:
World Bank, Brazil, Education, COVID-19.
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Qualitative analysis of the Sustainability aspect of the Innovation Ecosystem of Cornélio Procópio
Ribeiro de Sá Almeida, Laís
Abstract:
This research paper presents a comprehensive qualitative analysis of the innovation ecosystem in Cornélio Procópio, a small city situated in the northern region of Paraná State, Brazil, with a specific focus on sustainability aspects of the city’s development. The study evaluates the city’s current innovation landscape, encompassing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats while examining the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders, including non-profit organizations, businesses, local government entities, and university leaders and students. The research methodology relies on a meticulous review of scientific papers, publicly available data, and interviews with community members actively engaged in promoting sustainability within the ecosystem.
Keywords:
Innovation Ecosystem, sustainability, development, SWOT Analysis.
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Should Helicobacter Pylori Be Eradicated in Cirrhotic Patients with Peptic Ulcer Disease?
Ribeiro Rocha Neves, Ana Carolina
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori is known for being the main cause of Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), knowing that a large percentage of cirrhotic patients develops PUD and that cirrhotic patients have shown to have a higher risk of H. pylori infection. Consequently, studies were made to contemplate if there was a relation between H. pylori infection in cirrhotic patients with the occurrence of PUD, meaning to find if the bacteria eradication could diminish or terminate the development of PUD in cirrhotic patients. Therefore, this narrative review aims to critically evaluate pre-existing studies on the topic, using a search database with no time restriction based on articles on PubMed, resulting in the inclusion of 10 relevant studies. The present narrative review acknowledges a consistent pattern of little to no relation of H. pylori infection being a cause for PUD in cirrhotic patients, believing an “ulcerogenic factor” in cirrhosis to be the cause. Studies which stated a positive weak correlation declared to have research limitations. However, some studies were still in favor of implementing H. pylori eradication treatment, even if proclaiming no direct relation, stating that the infection could be a cause for PUD complications. While further research is needed to elucidate the cause of PUD in cirrhotic patients and how beneficial H. pylori eradication treatment is for those patients, the existing evidence suggest that the therapy might not be that advantageous, with not enough evidence to prescribe nor reject the treatment.
Keywords:
Helicobacter pylori, Liver cirrhosis, Peptic Ulcer Disease, treatment, eradication.
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Literature in the Classroom: How Literature Can Help to Create Critical Consciousness
Ribeiro Valesan, Fernanda
Abstract:
The idea of critical consciousness was majorly explored by Paulo Freire, one of the most important educators of the 20th century. Since then there have been studies showing various pedagogical strategies to use in the classroom that can create critical consciousness. Using literature in the classroom is one of these strategies that can provide critical consciousness and critical literacy because creates meaningful and important connections with the students while showing the social importance of reading and writing. This brief overview about the subject uses qualitative methods to show the current state of the literature about the impact of using literature in the classrooms and brings a two (2) relevant examples. The database used was Google Academics where two (2) master’s theses and one (1) article relevant to this research were selected. This research concludes that literature is an important tool in the classroom to question and reflect the reality lived creating critical consciousness and critical literacy.
Keywords:
Critical consciousness; Critical literacy; Paulo Freire; Literature.
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An Analysis of Literature and Cinema in Bridgerton: How the Netflix Series Differs from the Book in the Conduct of Events
Ritter Ferreira, Ana Luisa
Abstract:
The focus of the scientific article will be on the area of literature and cinema. The purpose will be to analyze a story told through a book and through a television series in order to understand the differences involved and their reasons. The idea of carrying out the work in this way is due to the fact that it is very common to have comparisons on equal terms of stories told by different means. When people watch a movie adapted from a book they expect it to be exactly like the book, otherwise the movie is bad. However, the objective of this work is to demystify these misconceptions, explore the idea of the movie/series and the book and how the story (the plot) can be told through these different means. To carry out this research, the second book of the Bridgerton series of books will be analyzed as well as the second season of the series adapted from the literary work. With this, it is expected to obtain clarification about the present distinctions. Finally, the gap in the area to be explored in this paper is the compared literary analysis of Bridgerton.
Keywords:
Book, Television series, Bridgerton, Adaptation, Difference.
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Legal Education in the Latin American Context: The Dialogue between Education and Society
Rodrigues da Silva Dantas, Gárdia
Abstract:
In contemporary times, legal education can be considered a strategic axis to mitigate the gap between legal repertoires and local/regional realities or, in other words, bring Law closer to the historical-social scenario in which it is inserted. As debates about legal education acquire centrality and academic-institutional density, there is a new look at legal education and, notably, at its social relevance through curricular and extension activities. In Latin America, legal formalism forges the notions of Law, legal education and professional practice, and overcoming it involves the construction of a new legal thought, guided by reflection on what is officially ordered and consecrated, in terms of knowledge, discourse and behavior. Higher education, and in particular legal education, can be seen as possible instruments of social transformation. In this sense, the values propagated by the Córdoba Reform, which go back to the dialogue between education and society, are revalued through global and regional declarations on higher education, and by the Tuning Latin America Project, which, together, converge towards the construction of socially relevant education.
Keywords:
Legal training, social transformation, socially relevant education.
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How Sustainable Entrepreneurship Can Give Small Businesses an Edge
Rodrigues dos Reis, Erick
Abstract:
This paper explores the concept and practice of sustainable entrepreneurship, which is a form of innovation that aims to create positive environmental and social impacts through innovative and responsible business solutions. The paper reviews the literature on the benefits, challenges, and strategies of sustainable entrepreneurship, focusing on how small businesses can use sustainability as a competitive advantage in the market. The paper also discusses the role of public engagement, resource demand reduction, product value, and organic growth in enhancing the performance and legitimacy of sustainable enterprises. The paper concludes by indicating some of the advantages a small business might have, and also highlighting the gaps and opportunities for future research on sustainable entrepreneurship.
Keywords:
Sustainable development, sustainable entrepreneurship, environment, green economy, business.
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Economic Importance, Conservation and in Vitro Propagation of Vanilla Spp. Mill.: A Literature Review
Rosa de Souza, Marina
Abstract:
The genus Vanilla Mill, which belongs to the Orchidaceae family, is known for having species that are sources of aromatic compounds with high commercial value, used mainly in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The importance of discovering the pollinating agents and how vanilla is pollinated is of major commercial interest, given that vanillin is extracted from the dried vanilla pods. Due to the extreme extraction of native plant species and the destruction of natural habitats, there is an urgent need to apply methods that favor the sustainable use of biodiversity. In addition to extractivism, vanilla is susceptible to fungal and viral diseases, which result in severe damage to its cultivation. Orchids have a difficult time germinating seeds, which are considered slow, in addition to the low survival rate of seedlings of most species in the wild. The growing demand for cultivation and the complex activity of producing vanilla for oil extraction exposes the need to establish technologies for propagation, conservation and improvement of species of the genus. Considering these problems, biotechnological techniques, such as tissue culture, allow for the rapid and massive propagation of stable and disease-free genotypes of the most diverse plant species for various purposes, and these plants can be used commercially and in germplasm conservation and/or seedling propagation.
Keywords:
In vitro cultivation, organogenesis, embryogenesis, in vitro germination.
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The Importance of Preconception Nutrition: Nourishing the Path to a Healthy Pregnancy
Rosa Ferreira Pinto, Ursula
Abstract:
Preconception nutrition of both parents plays a pivotal role in maternal and fetal health, impacting nutrient availability for fetal development, pre-pregnancy weight, genetic material quality, and the prevention of undesirable complications. The primary objective of this paper is to emphasize the importance of adopting a healthy preconception diet, thereby ensuring an adequate nutritional state at the time of conception. Scientific databases were used for searching keywords related to preconceptional nutrition and its influence on maternal-child health, as well as reproductive health. Planning for pregnancy involves initiating appropriate healthcare consultations with medical professionals, where maternal and child nutritionists play an essential role in promoting nutritional adequacy and guidance. This is especially significant, as changing dietary habits that are low in nutrients and high in sugar and fat, and eliminating harmful substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs before conception, are more appropriate, allowing for a gradual and higher-quality transformation. Implementing adequate nutrition before pregnancy helps prevent complications during gestation and childbirth, for example excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, low birth weight, macrosomia, preterm birth, anemia, hypoglycemia, developmental issues, and even maternal mortality. Preparing for a healthy pregnancy by taking care of one’s health before conception ensures a healthy body and environment for optimal fetal development.
Keywords:
Pre-Pregnancy nutrition, reproductive health, maternal and child nutrition, dietary rehabilitation, pregnancy planning, semen quality.
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Epigenetics and Alzheimer's Disease: A Literature Review
Ruppenthal da Silva, Bibiana
Abstract:
Over half of the dementia cases are from Alzheimer’s disease, which represents about 55 million patients diagnosed with the condition and the number is rapidly increasing. Several hypotheses as to what the disease’s mechanism is, how it develops, and how it could be prevented and treated have been by scientists around the world. As a result of the above-mentioned, epigenetic mechanisms have been widely mentioned as influential to the development of the disease. Epigenetic mechanisms are techniques that are able to modify the chromatin and gene expression without making any alterations to the DNA itself, as a consequence the gene expressions are altered. The main ones are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs. Furthermore, genes are also associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as, more lifestyle factors, such as diet, stress levels, and physical activity. In this brief literature review, all the points already stated will be explained, overviewing their significance. Finally, it will allow readers to have a succinct knowledge of how epigenetics is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, along with a better understanding of what the disease is and the mechanisms and pathways researchers believe lead to the condition.
Keywords:
Epigenetics, Alzheimer’s disease, epigenetics mechanisms, genes , lifestyle.